"Un poco de ti" Sleepingbag review

…it’s kind of like what you’d imagine a Spanish Radiohead’s version of “High And Dry” might sound like with a danceable vibe; it has a similar fragile, delicate beauty to the chord structure and a dreamy way of floating us through the chilled-out vibe. Truly a faultless gem of a song… intoxicating to listen to, the good-stuff dreams are made of…

"Un poco de ti" TunedLoud review

This is just a fantastic fusion of musical elements. If you like songs that have a little depth, elements that your soul can feed on, yet at the same time can be a fun and captivating listening experience. This music fits that description. And Cinco Santos knows how to deliver it. These guys deserve to hit it big and I think they will!…

"Un poco de ti" Bandcamp review

Creating a great atmosphere …This song in particular makes me think of some of the best stuff by Counting Crows and Nickelback, where the rock and roll energy blends in perfectly with the band’s remarkable pop edge and interesting latin influences, adding a touch of amazing personality to the album.

"Azucar y amor" Parlante amarillo

Azucar y Amor Is the first single from “Duplicidad” the debut production from Cinco Santos. While their music is a fusion of styles such as rock, pop, flamenco, and contemporary urban rhythms, it has a particular and unequaled stamp by the way they have been greatly combined. Parlante Amarillo, Colombia.

Duplicidad review

Formed by Lorenzo Montero of Canadian and Spanish decent, Cinco Santos embodies the spirit of Latin fusion incorporating various singers, guitarists, and musicians from Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina. The moving “Azucar y Amor” is a gypsy, flamenco, and fusion tune with jazzy, Latin elements that are ripe with roots, folk, and breezy rhythms. “Nunca Mas” is an edgy, Latin fusion track with a choppy beat and great guitar accompaniment. “Te Quiero Aqui” opens with an industrial element that quickly delves into a Latin jazz and flamenco tune. “Duplicidad” begins with a jingly guitar and bass opening that includes an edgy vocal line that infuses a lighter guitar accompaniment throughout. There is a mix of grunge, Latin jazz, and Latin pop with rock, roots, and folk throughout. Without a clearly-defined path, Cinco Santos feel better forging their own path of music with mixed Latin influences for a truly engaging and charming mix of music. Fans of Latin fusion, jazz, Latin rock, flamenco, gypsy, and South American pop will love “Duplicidad”. ~ Matthew Forss Inside World Music

Candela on Kuadro

Our friends at Revista Kuadro a Mexican online and print magazine did a feature on our “Candela” single.

Cinco Santos with Jesse Cervantes

Meet Cinco Santos, the New Sensation in Spanish Rock

Living Out Loud: How do you feel about where you are in your career?Daniel Jimenez: We’re very excited about the release of the album. It’s been a wonderful project for us to develop, and we’re very happy to be sharing our work with our fans.

LOL: Would you say your unique blend of distinct musical styles is what has distinguished you as a band?
DJ: Yeah. Everyone brings their own different influence, and we all have great chemistry together. All that is conducive to an ideal working environment and makes everything go smoothly. This blend has served us well, and “Candela” and “Azúcar y Amor” are great examples of that.

LOL: Are you satisfied with the response to the album so far and where you are as a band?
DJ: We’re currently promoting the album independently, and that’s a constant struggle. It requires a lot of effort on our part, but we put all we have into it. We also have support from Criteria Entertainment, and they have helped us reach fans and get media exposure. We’re confident we’ll be a hit soon, but like I said, getting here has been a struggle.
Lorenzo Montero: Besides it being a great pleasure, I personally feel very fortunate to be part of Cinco Santos. Finding what we have together is like finding a needle in a haystack. Everyone knows that there are countless bands in L.A., and for us to have the following we’ve gained is fantastic. We’re glad everything has lined up the way it has because it’s allowed us to make the music we want.

LOL: What message do you wish to send with “Candela”?
DJ: “Candela” is one of the songs we wrote as a band and explores how we feel, and how as Latinos we tend to be very passionate in our way of loving and doing many other things. The song talks about this, relating it to parties, relationships and a night in the city – all of which have contributed in shaping our emotions.
LM: I think this is particularly true for Latinos living here in the U.S. because that fire is also reflective of our optimism of being in a place where we can pursue a better life. That, in one way or another, changes how your roots develop and your culture, and despite how we assimilate, we’ll always have that passion with us.

LOL: Tell us about the songwriting process and how you go about selecting the right tracks.
DJ: We write some independently, and then bring them in and all contribute with arranging; we also write some together. That’s something we’ve been doing more lately. We’ll get together in a circle and just write there and exchange ideas. We’re very happy with this method, and so far it’s served us very well.

LOL: Will you guys give it up if you don’t find the success you are looking for soon?
LM: I think success starts as soon as one is able to do what they love. Because of that, I see that we are already successful. We all have freedom of expression and have done what we wanted. Also, the fact that we get along so well and concur as much as we do, is success in itself. That said, if commercial success doesn’t come soon, we’ll keep working at it because we’ve invested so much into it. We’ve made it this far because of the respect we have for one another, and we wear our hearts on our sleeves and gladly give them up for our fans.

Edison Millan contributed to this story.

Ramon Aviles is a Staff Reporter for Living Out Loud – LA, covering lifestyle and entertainment.